Ranking the worst episode from every Star Trek series (from best to worst)

As a seasoned gamer and long-time Star Trek enthusiast who has spent countless hours navigating the final frontier, I must say that this ranking of the worst episodes from each series is an intriguing journey down memory lane. It’s like revisiting old friends, some of whom have grown on me over time, while others remain stubbornly forgettable.

Over the course of almost 60 years, Star Trek has aired 12 series, with each series (except perhaps The Animated Series) contributing at least one outstanding episode to its collection of high-quality shows. Simultaneously, every series has produced an episode that stands out as one of the franchise’s poorest performances.

As a devoted fan, I recognized that what’s considered the ‘worst’ episode in one series might not necessarily be the same for another. So, with the aim of determining the absolute low point each franchise has reached, we embarked on an exciting journey – comparing the so-called ‘worst’ episodes across major series based on IMDb ratings. This way, we could definitively identify and acknowledge the least successful productions within their respective franchises.

12. Prodigy- “Starstruck” (7.1)

Starstruck stands out as one of the top choices among less favorable shows. It’s undoubtedly the most reliable series during the Nu Trek Era, with Prodiy’s “least favorite” being its third episode overall and first beyond the Tars Lamora prison colony. Therefore, it’s not unexpected that there might be an adjustment period.

11. Lower Decks – “Second Contact” (6.8)

If your initial episode sets the standard as the poorest in a series’ continuity, there are typically just two outcomes: either an early termination or a recovery with improved episodes. Fortunately for Lower Decks, the latter scenario prevailed. After completing a span of five seasons, the show is wrapping up, yet it leaves behind almost five seasons filled with exceptional content for its audience to cherish.

10. Strange New Worlds – “The Elysian Kingdom
” (6.2)

While some people don’t take a liking to fantasy tales and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds seemed to cater to that idea in its impressive first season, it didn’t resonate as well as expected. This wasn’t the first or last time they attempted an innovative episode, but this particular attempt fell flat compared to other offerings from Strange New Worlds. However, even with its shortcomings, it remains a stronger episode than what lies ahead.

9. The Animated Series – “The Magicks of Megas-tu” (5.9)

These series such as Strange New Worlds, Lower Decks, and Prodigy might have varying peaks in quality, but they all start strong with few poor episodes to be found. You won’t encounter many bad episodes within any of them. On the other hand, The Animated Series lacks both a high peak (ceiling) and a consistently strong starting point (floor). It generally hovers around an average level, typically not surpassing a 7.0 rating on IMDb, which is justified given its consistent performance. While “The Magicks of Megas-tu” isn’t exceptional, it doesn’t deviate too far from the standard set by The Animated Series.

8. Short Treks – “The Girl Who Made The Stars” (5.6)

The intended story for this episode was meant to explain the origin of stars, but unfortunately, it failed to engage. Either there was too much time spent on it or not enough, making it less captivating. This problem seemed to persist throughout the entire series, with ideas not worthy of their allotted time and those that were underdeveloped. The result is a peculiar situation where an episode can be both overly long and insufficient at the same time, depending on its specific premise. What made this “Short Trek” particularly disappointing was that it linked directly to a plot from Discovery, implying that viewers needed to watch the entire series for a better grasp of this standalone short.

7. Deep Space Nine – “Let He Who Is Without Sin” (5.5)

Surprisingly, Deep Space Nine’s Risa-bound episode drew a lot of criticism, which I find quite unexpected since I consider it one of Star Trek’s funniest episodes. Essentially, the entire crew embarks on a holiday to Risa, only for Worf to struggle with relaxation and eventually, terrorists attempt to demolish the planet. It’s an engaging episode, but it seems that those watching DS9 at the time preferred a more serious tone from the series given its stage in the timeline, and that viewpoint is understandable.

6. Picard – “Monsters” (5.4)

Overall, Picard can be quite challenging to watch. The episode featuring numerous hallucinations felt particularly difficult, given its unsettling nature. Despite some intriguing hallucinations, it didn’t improve the viewing experience. Most viewers remained invested primarily because they hoped for the return of more established characters. Episodes like “Monsters” only served to heighten this anticipation.

5. Enterprise – “These are the Voyages” (5.3)

The final episode of Star Trek: Enterprise should be included on this list, but perhaps placed lower due to its unique approach. Although it concludes the Enterprise storyline by depicting how events unfolded based on the perspective of characters like William Riker and Deanna Troi, who were never part of the series before, some viewers found this method lacking and clichéd. Furthermore, the abrupt demise of Charles “Trip” Tucker was criticized as unnecessary.

4. The Original Series – “And The Children Shall Lead” (5.2)

In a rather implausible scenario, spirits take control of children, who subsequently seize command over the Starship Enterprise. Ideas like these, which defy common sense and logic, are not suitable for discussions in meetings, as they were clearly unfit to even be considered.

3. Discovery – “All is Possible” (5.2)

Typically, blending the training of cadets and intergalactic politics is a surefire way to captivate Star Trek enthusiasts. However, Discovery seemed determined to make things challenging every step of the way. Much of the criticism has been aimed at Mary Tillman’s writing for this episode, with many viewers finding her portrayal of the cadets as patronizing and disrespectful.

2. Voyager – “The Fight” (5.0)

Boxing and the navy go hand in hand. When you’re on a ship for weeks if not months at a time, boxing became a way to resolve conflicts. It’s a staple we saw done really well in Battlestar Galactica. Yet, when Voyager did it, they made it into some type of supernatural dreamscape, where Chakotay was fighting an alien in the boxing ring throughout the episode. Chakotay was a fan of the “sweet science” tracks, but the way they implemented it was hard to watch. The entire gimmick never should’ve made it to air and a better crop of writers should’ve figured out a better way to work boxing into an episode. Just lo how Voyager did combat sports in the season six episode Tsunkatse.

1. The Next Generation – “Shades of Grey” (3.3)

It’s the only clip show in Star Trek history. Should tell you all you needed to know.

2024-11-29 03:23

It sounds like at least one character from Thanksgiving will return for the sequel